Quebec residence by Naturehumaine is raised off a slope on a concrete podium
A bulky concrete wedge creates a plinth for this steel-clad Quebec home by architecture studio Naturehumaine, elevating it above a rocky slope (+ slideshow).
![Bolton Residence by Nature Humaine](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Bolton-Residence-by-Nature-Humaine_dezeen_468_1-e1423067787481.jpg)
Montreal-based Naturehumaine designed the two-storey residence, called Bolton Residence, for a rugged hillside in the municipality of Bolton East, near the Quebec-Vermont border.
The family home consists of two stacked structures: the concrete block partially built into the slope contains the lower storey, while the upper floor is housed within a gabled block that is clad in ridged panels of charcoal-grey steel.
![Bolton Residence by Nature Humaine](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Bolton-Residence-by-Nature-Humaine_dezeen_468_6.jpg)
The lower volume anchors the building to the hillside, while the larger upper floor overhangs it to provide shelter. A wooden terrace extends from the glazed gable of the upper level, providing a cover for a pine-clad log-shed and car-port located on the lower part of the slope.
![Bolton Residence by Nature Humaine](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Bolton-Residence-by-Nature-Humaine_dezeen_468_8.jpg)
"The limited budget constrained the choice of how we could position the house," studio architect David Dworkind told Dezeen. "The steep site had a natural plateau that became the obvious choice to build the house without having to do any costly structural acrobatics."
![Bolton Residence by Nature Humaine](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Bolton-Residence-by-Nature-Humaine_dezeen_468_7.jpg)
The underside of the roof is covered with sheets of grained Douglas fir plywood. Otherwise, the living room and bedroom on this floor have a monochrome palette, with grey slate floors, and a hearth and staircase made from blackened hot-rolled steel.
In the living room, a horizontal strip of glazing with thick black frames directs views through the treetops to the valley below.
![Bolton Residence by Nature Humaine](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Bolton-Residence-by-Nature-Humaine_dezeen_468_12.jpg)
A house-shaped volume inserted towards the back of the living space separates a master bedroom and ensuite bathroom from the lounge.
![Bolton Residence by Nature Humaine](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Bolton-Residence-by-Nature-Humaine_dezeen_468_19.jpg)
A chunk cut from one corner this black-painted block creates a recess to accommodate the kitchen, which has pale maple counter-tops and white units.
![Bolton Residence by Nature Humaine](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Bolton-Residence-by-Nature-Humaine_dezeen_468_15.jpg)
A row of pendant light bulbs hang from the underside of this sloping opening over the breakfast bar.
![Bolton Residence by Nature Humaine](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Bolton-Residence-by-Nature-Humaine_dezeen_468_21.jpg)
"The kitchen ceiling was folded up from one corner to open up the views," explained Dworkind.
"We wanted a lower, more intimate, ceiling in the kitchen and bathroom in contrast with the high cathedral ceiling over the rest of the ground floor."
![Bolton Residence by Nature Humaine](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Bolton-Residence-by-Nature-Humaine_dezeen_468_23.jpg)
Black metal-framed stairs lead down from behind a grey unit containing the hearth and log-storage to the lower floor, where a second bedroom, bathroom and utility spaces are located.
![Bolton Residence by Nature Humaine](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Bolton-Residence-by-Nature-Humaine_dezeen_468_20.jpg)
Photography is by Adrien Williams and David Dworkind.
![Bolton Residence by Nature Humaine](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Bolton-Residence-by-Nature-Humaine_dezeen_1.gif)
![Bolton Residence by Nature Humaine](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Bolton-Residence-by-Nature-Humaine_dezeen_3.gif)
![Bolton Residence by Nature Humaine](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Bolton-Residence-by-Nature-Humaine_dezeen_2.gif)